Customer Reviews

Death to All Cheerleaders : One Adolescent Journalist's Cheerful Diatribe Against Teenage Plasticity

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I found the book to be a disappointment. The writing was tedious--no new ideas--just shock value ramblings. A more sophisticated approach would have illuminated contemporary social mores. The concepts presented are mundane and do not reflect authentic social criticism. The book has no intellectual value, no literary value and above all offers no actual social commentary.

To be perfectly honest, this book isn't very good. The writing and research on some, though not all, of the peices shows a certain amount of promise, and to someone who never really fit in with their contemporaries as an adolescent (like me) there is plenty to identify with (in theory at least), but the style and extremelyvarying degree of insight is off putting. Marty is clearly intelligent and interested in what he perceives as social commentary, but to me a lot of his critiques descend to the level of loud mouthed, egotistical ranting, tinged with blue language (which isn't something I'm particularly opposed to) in order maybe to lend his opinions some gravitas. However his attitude fails to carry much of his message; a lot of it comes off like a teenaged Denis Leary i.e. noisy and seemingly relevant, but actually pretty hollow and pointless. Someone else in this review list (it might be the guy beneath me) seems to actually know Marty, and his claim that the book was self published is interesting. I didn't know this, but now I do, if it's true, it explains a lot. Almost every teenaged outsider fills their mind with drivel for most of the time and convinces themselves that they are better and more worthwhile than their peers simply because they are different. It doesn't take a special kind of arrogance to assume that your teenage ramblings actually have any real merit, and anything worthwhile to contribute (mine certainly never did), but it does take a special kind of blindness to follow through and publish essays on the art of angst whose only real saving grace is the unintentional inshight they provide into the mind of the author. Marty will go far, when he curbs his feigned outrages.

Marty Beckerman is an angry young man and he takes great glee, going off on the sacred cows of growing up. It's not exactly what you'd call uplifting, but Family Ties had that market cornered, and honesty is funnier than schmaltz.

I found Marty Beckerman through recommendations from a Bret Easton Ellis web site and visited [...] and [...] a few times before I bought his books. Having known more about this author from his blog and knowing what sort of awesome humor this guy is capable of, I came into reading this book with high expectations. They, for most part, met said high expectations, but one could tell that he improves on his craft over the years comparing this book written at age 15-16 to his newer books. I'm almost offended over how bright this guy was in high school.

This book may possibly be one of the best ever written. If you are a teenager who goes against the grain, you must buy this book. It helps combat the stupidity of the popular and trite people in high school. It's filled to the brim with some of the funniest journalism i've ever read. And don't worry, Marty doesn't discriminate-he makes fun of everyone equally. If you are easily offended, you should brace yourself for a book that will blow you away. Also included, though, are some stories that are so sad that they brought tears to my eyes. Marty shows a range of writing abilities far beyond his 17 years. Death to All Cheerleaders is something as vital as oxygen in today's culture. BUY IT!!!!!

Marty Beckerman has some great ideas, one of the best being the title of his book. I could not put it down....not only is it funny, but he has some stories that are sad too. Seeing as how Marty is only 17 he has great insight to the ways of the world. You need this book! Why? It'll make you laugh. It'll make you wonder (mostly about Marty's sanity....) and then you'll laugh some more. This book isn't for the average teeny-bopper...in fact if you are one of them, don't buy it, you'll cry. This book is for the teenager who doesn't fit the mold...those non-plastic teenagers. Read it, you'll be glad you did!

Marty Beckerman possesses a certain way of deviating from typical comedy writing that makes him great. He marks the most refreshingly forthright and witty commentary ever put to paper for his domain of writing. I'm eagerly awaiting his next book, especially for the fact that Beckerman is only 17. "Death to All Cheerleaders" provides insight into the mind of an adolescent male.